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investigate

Identify and isolate root causes of software bugs through evidence gathering and hypothesis testing.

Updated Mar 24, 2026
Search Tags:#debugging#investigation#phases#hypothesis#root-cause#reproduction
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/pistosmin/base-one --skill investigate-pistosmin
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: investigate
Source: https://github.com/pistosmin/base-one/tree/main/.claude/skills/gstack/investigate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/pistosmin/base-one --skill investigate-pistosmin

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides a structured, four-phase approach to debugging that ensures root causes are found before fixes, reducing repeated issues and outages.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Four-phase workflow: investigate, analyze, hypothesize, implement to systematically identify root causes.
  • Evidence-driven debugging: collects symptoms, traces, and reproducible steps to verify hypotheses.
  • Safe scope and governance: supports scope-lock checks and telemetry logging to track usage across investigations and prevent scope creep.

Quick Start

Describe the observed issue, gather symptoms, run the root-cause workflow to identify the underlying cause, verify it with evidence, and define and apply a fix.

Frequently Asked Questions about investigate

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I find the root cause of a software bug instead of just patching symptoms?▼

Root-cause debugging uses a four-phase workflow—investigate, analyze, hypothesize, implement—to systematically isolate software bugs. You gather evidence, verify hypotheses with reproducible steps, and apply fixes only after the underlying cause is confirmed.

What is the best way to debug flaky behavior and intermittent error traces?▼

Debugging flaky behavior requires an evidence-driven approach that collects symptoms, traces, and reproducible steps. Pattern analysis identifies intermittent failure triggers, ensuring hypotheses are verified against actual telemetry before fixes are applied.

How do I systematically debug codebase errors step by step?▼

Systematic debugging follows four steps: investigate to gather symptoms, analyze patterns in error traces, hypothesize potential root causes, and implement verified fixes. Scope-lock checks prevent scope creep during the investigation.

Can I use a phase-driven workflow to prevent scope creep during root-cause investigation?▼

Yes, phase-driven workflows support scope-lock checks and telemetry logging to track usage across investigations. These governance features prevent scope creep by constraining the debugging process to verified hypotheses and controlled fix implementation.

Why does my software bug reappear after applying a patch without root-cause analysis?▼

Patches applied without root-cause analysis often address symptoms rather than underlying faults. Evidence-driven debugging verifies hypotheses against collected traces and reproducible steps before fixes are implemented, reducing repeated issues and outages.

Does root-cause debugging work with telemetry logging for tracking investigation phases?▼

Yes, root-cause debugging supports telemetry logging to track usage across investigations. This governance feature records evidence gathering, pattern analysis, hypothesis testing, and verified fix application throughout the four-phase workflow.

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